Illuminating means for tank type suction cleaners



Feb. 10, 1953 N. c. CUDDEBACK ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR TANK TYPE SUCTION CLEANERS Filed Oct. 29, 1948 2 Sl-IEETSSHEET 1 k a Y mm M Md m V10 T ma M C ma w N fl B Feb. 10, 1953 N. c. CUDDEBACK 2,628,303 ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR TANK TYPE SUCTION CLEANERS Filed Oct. 29, 1948 2 Sl-lEETS-SHEET 2 ZNVENTOR.

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Patented F eb. 10, 1953 ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR TANK TYPE SUCTION CLEANERS Nelson C. Cuddeback, Chicago Heights, 111., as-

signor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 29, 1948, Serial No. 57,271

2 Claims.

This invention relates to suction cleaners and more particularly to the type of cleaner usually referred to as the tank or canister type in which the motor-fan-filter unit is housed within a casing and a cleaning tool such as a suction nozzle is connected to the motor-fan-filter unit by means of a flexible hose.

Heretofore it has been the practice to apply a light directly to the cleaner nozzle so that only the area extending a few inches in front of the nozzle is illuminated. In using the tank type cleaners it is desirable that the entire general area to be cleaned be illuminated so that the cleaning tool can be applied to only that area which needs cleaning. That is especially significant when the cleaner is used for cleaning under beds or other dark and inaccessible places.

According to the present invention a light is applied to the body of the motor-fan-filter unit in such a position relative to the suction hose connection that the entire area toward which the unit is being moved is illuminated. The light is of sufficient intensity and is so positioned relative to the surface being cleaned that the light will cause particles of dirt or litter to cast exaggerated shadows so that the user will be immediately informed as to where the suction nozzle should be applied.

Tank cleaners of the cylinder type usually have skids or runners which support the cleaner in a horizontal position on the floor as the cleaning tool or nozzle is manipulated to perform its cleaning function. The suction hose is connected to the front end cap and the rear end cap may be provided with supports whereby the cleaner may be supported on its rear end.

Cleaners of the tank or canister type are used in different ways depending upon the use to which the cleaner is put. For cleaning floors or floor coverings the motor-fan-filter unit is usually drawn about over the floor on its skids or runners by means of the flexible hose as the nozzle is moved to a new area to be cleaned. For cleaning curtains, drapes, or other vertically extending fabrics or surfaces the unit may be supported on its rear end with the hose extending upwardly from the front end cap.

Accordingly, the present invention contemplates the mounting of a powerful flood, spot, or other light immediately below the hose connection on the front end cap and positioned to direct its light beams forwardly and downwardly relative to the cleaner when it is mounted on its skids or runners.

Thus, as the motor-fan-filter unit is being drawn across the floor in moving it from place to place the area immediately in front of the unit including all points within the range of the hose length will be illuminated and when the unit is set on its rear end as in cleaning curtains, drapes, and other vertical fabrics or surf-aces the light beam will be directed upwardly and forwardly toward the curtain or other vertical surface.

More specifically, according to this invention, the lamp is positioned in a depression in the front end cap immediately below the suction hose connection. The end cap is provided with hand openings below the lamp whereby the unit may be easily upended on its rear end. The hand holes also form ingress openings for cooling air which circulates upwardly thermosiphonically through the recess in which the lamp is mounted.

The front end cap of the usual cylindrical cleaner is removable for the purpose of removing or cleaning the filter bag. Therefore, according to another feature of this invention, detachable electrical connections are provided between the body of the cleaner and the front end cap which automatically make contact to connect the lamp to the motor circuit when the end cap is applied to the cleaner.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a h-orizotally positioned canister type cleaner with this invention applied thereto and showing the nozzle or hand tool being used in the area immediately in front of the cleaner;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the end capi showing how the lamp is mounted therein; an

Figure 3 is a detail view showing the detachable electrical connections between the end cap and the body of the cleaner.

Referring to the drawings the reference numeral Ill indicates generally the body or the easing for the motor-fan-filter unit of a horizontal tank type cleaner. The body I0 is mounted on skids or runners ll whereby the cleaner body may be moved about over the surface to 'be cleaned. The body in is also provided with the usual carrying handle I2, a removable front end c n rally indicated by he reference numeral I3 and a rear end cap M which is so shaped as to support the cleaner on its rear end when set in a vertical position.

A suction nozzle or hand tool I5 is swiveled to a wand I6 which in turn is connected to the front end cap I3 by a flexible hose II usually eight or ten feet long. The hose I1 is detach-ably connected to the end cap I3 by a swivel joint generally indicated by the reference numeral I8. The joint I8 vper'se forms no part of thepresent invention and neednot be described in detail.

Immediately below the joint or connection I8 is a reflective illuminating lamp 20 mounted in a recess 2I in the end cap I3. At the sides of the recess 2I are openings 22 extending through the walls of the recess. Hand openings 23 open through the bottom of the end cap I3 below and to each side of the lamp 20.

The lamp 20 is mounted in a conventional socket 24 carried by the inner wall 25 of the end cap I3. The end cap I3 is detachably connected to the body I 0 by a hook 2S and a latch mechanism 2'! of any suitable type. The latch mechanism "shown forms =no.-part of the present invention and need-notbe described in detail. The socket24-is-connected to conductors 30 by means of conductors 3| and separable connectors one of'which is indicated in Fig. 2 by the reference numeral 32. Itis to be understood that the-conductors -30 are connected to the motor circuit andthat there are two connectors 32 positioned between the end cap I3 and the body I0 atany suitable point. Each of the connectors 32 comprises a male-contact member 33 carried by the end cap I3anda female contact member 3d carried. bythe casing I0 and'including a spring pressedcontact 35'which coacts with the male contactmember 33 when the end cap I3 is attached to thecasing I 0.

The lamp 20 may .be held in spaced relation to the walls-of the recess-2| by a plurality of spring like members Seas-shown inFig. 2. 'The space between the-lamp 20 and'the walls of the recess 2| form an air circulating duct'for. cooling the lamp 20. The-heat of the lamp- 20 causes the air to circulate'upwardl'y thereover, entering by way of'the hand holes 23'and the openings 22. The hand holes 23 also are useful in upending the cleaner bodyontothe rear'end cap I4when the cleaner is to be used for cleaning curtains, etc.

As shown, the lamp 20i's sloped downwardly and forwardly so as to direct its beams onto the floora'sub's'ta'ntial distance in front'o'f the'cleaner body when supported on the. runners II. The lamp should be of sufficient intensity to illuminate the entire area in front of the cleaner which is a'c'cessibleto thesuction nozzle I5. The lamp can be of 'the'flood light type now'readily available on the open market "which 'has'its' own refiector, for example, a 110 volt, 140 watt lamp or it may be of the sealed beam 'type'used for automobile spot lights in which case provision should be made for supplying the lower voltage necessary.

From the foregoing it can be seen that the motor-fan-filter unit I0 can be .pulledabout on its runners II by meansof tlie'hose IT'and the lamp 20 will direct its rays on the entire area in front of the 'cleaner'which'is accessible to the hand tool I5. The light rays will be so projected that any dust or litter in the area will cast exaggerated shadow to inform the user where the cleaning tools should be applied. When curtains or other vertically projected surfaces are being cleaned the body I0 is supported on the rear end cap I 4 and the bottom of the cleaner directed toward the surface. Thus, the light rays will again be directed to the surface being cleaned and will cast a slanting shadow so as to accentuate the appearance of the dust or litter thereon.

While I have shown but 'a single modification of my invention it is to be understood that this modification is to be taken as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. I do not wish to be limited'to the particular structure shown and described but to include all equivalent variations thereof except as limited by the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A suction cleaner comprising, a casing, a motor-fan-filter unit within said casing, means attached to said casing for supporting it in a horizontal position for ambulatory movement over a surface, an air nozzle for manual application to saidsurface, a flexible hose, connecting means near the" top of one end of said casing for operatively connecting said'hose to said casing whereby air can be moved through said'nozzle for removing dirt from said surface, aid hose and supporting means being so arranged that said casing may bemoved about oversaidsurface'by a pulling force applied to said'hose and a refiective illuminating lamp mounted on the end'of casing below said connecting'means, said lamp being'inclined downwardly'and forwardly of said casing so as to direct light rays emitted therefrom downwardly and forwardly onto an area of said surface forwardly of said casing.

2. A suction cleaner'comprising, a normally horizontally positioned casing including a removable end'cap, means for supporting said casing for movement over a surface, a fan positioned within saidcasing, a manually'manipulatable tool including an air nozzle for application to said surface, a flexible hose connected at one end to said nozzle, a connection for connecting the other end of said hose to aid end cap near the top thereof, said end'cap being attached to the suction end of saidcasing so that air is moved through said hose and nozzle and a reflective illuminating lamp mounted on said end cap below said hose connection, said lamp being inclined downwardly and forwardly of said casing 50 as to direct light rays emitted therefrom downwardlyand forwardly onto an rea of said surface forwardly of said end cap.

NELSON C. CUDDEBACK.

REFER'ENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,323,819 Bohan Dec. 2, 1919 1,804,809 Pritchard May 12, 1931 2,017,937 Becker Oct. 22, 1935 2,132,007 Smith Oct. 4, 1938 2,190,678 Replogle Feb. 20, 1940 2,221,745 Kirby Nov. 12, 1940 2,287,474 Hansson June 23, 1942 2,312,426 Lofgren Mar. 2, 1943 2,347,919 Lofgren May 2, 1944 

